5 Signs You Might Be a Candidate for Microdiscectomy
Jan 14, 2026
Deciding whether spine surgery is right for you isn’t something you should have to figure out on your own.
At Max Steuer, MD, in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Steuer and physician assistant Carter Cooper, PA-C, partner with you to understand your pain, explore nonsurgical options first, and recommend surgery like microdiscectomy when appropriate.
A microdiscectomy (or microdecompression) is a minimally invasive procedure to remove the portion of a herniated disc that’s pressing on a nerve root. The treatment relieves disruptive pain and improves your ability to function.
Below are five signs that you might be a candidate, starting with the most common.
A telltale symptom we see in candidates for microdiscectomy is persistent radiating pain. It presents as classic sciatica down your leg or radiculopathy down your arm, and it doesn’t seem to get better with rest or conservative care.
This nerve pain often feels sharp, burning, or electric, and can make sitting, standing, or walking uncomfortable.
When we see pain of this nature that continues beyond 2-3 months of nonsurgical treatments, such as physical therapy or medications, we may strongly consider microdiscectomy.
Maybe the pain isn’t the worst part for you. It could be the numbness, tingling, or weakness in your leg or foot that won’t go away.
When a herniated disc compresses your nerves, you can experience painful sensory changes and muscle weakness. We often recommend surgery when these symptoms persist or progress, because prolonged, untreated nerve compression can lead to long-term weakness.
Some spine discomfort comes and goes, but pain from a herniated disc often gets worse when spinal pressure increases, for example, when you cough, sneeze, bend, or sit for a long time.
If you find that these routine activities consistently trigger your symptoms, and conservative care hasn’t helped, talk with Dr. Steuer to determine if decompression surgery might provide lasting relief.
Spine pain can interfere with your work, movement, and quality of life. If your symptoms make it hard to walk, bend, lift, or sleep, and you’ve tried therapies such as physical therapy, injections, or medications without noticeable improvement, microdiscectomy might help.
We always start with conservative approaches first, but if you have debilitating symptoms, surgery can help you get back to life.
In our practice, backed by spine care guidelines, we always recommend trying nonsurgical treatments first, including physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and sometimes epidural steroid injections, before considering surgery.
If you’ve diligently pursued these options for 6-12 weeks and your pain or neurological symptoms don’t relent, that’s an important sign that surgical intervention like microdiscectomy may be the best next step.
If any of the signs above resonate with your experience, we can help you navigate your options. At our spine center, we review your medical history, conduct a thorough physical and imaging evaluation, and discuss whether microdiscectomy or another treatment is right for you.
Contact us at Max Steuer, MD, today to schedule a consultation.